The front-line of ice addiction

As the first port of call in a medical crisis, emergency departments see the worst consequences of use of the drug ice. Those who work in these departments see ice users as their problems develop into more than an addiction. As use of the drug increases, so do visits to the hospital.

At the moment when a patient presents to Latrobe Regional Hospital emergency department on ice, unless they have been sedated by ambulance officers, they usually have to be contained until it's safe for them to be released into care.

Ms Colvin says medical staff try to do things in the least restrictive manner, but there is still the need for security guards.

After the patient has been treated for the initial medical problem they can then be referred to ongoing mental health or drug rehabilitation services if they need it.

Whilst not every patient who is admitted whilst they are high requires mental health services, Ms Colvin says there is a high correlation between patients with drug addictions and mental health problems.

"The ones requiring admission are normally patients who have been chronic users of the drug [ice]. Quite a few of our patients that do get admitted to the mental health unit are due to ice intoxication," she says.

The use of ice often prolongs and exacerbates existing mental health problems.

Ms Colvin recalls one young girl who was initially admitted to mental health services after arriving at the emergency department, high on ice.

Despite having an ongoing mental health treatment plan, the girl returned to the emergency department due to ice and had to undergo more intensive treatment in the hospital's mental health ward.

The hospital doesn't offer long term rehabilitation programs.

Instead it refers those with an ice addiction to Latrobe Community Health Service.

One of the biggest barriers is getting addicts to keep attending drug, alcohol and mental health services.

Ms Colvin says many ice users don't think they have a problem and don't follow up with those services.

"The patient needs to want to engage with that service," she says.

At the acute end of the ice addiction problem facing Gippsland, in the hospital emergency ward, the first priority is saving lives no matter what the situation.

"It's about not being judgemental and it's about treating everybody the same," Ms Colvin says.